Small World After All

At the Red Hill Fair market on Saturday I had one of those moments that reminds you how small the world is. It was a family market, so we chatted with many Mums with bubs coming past to browse my stall. My twin sister and market helper, Fiona, noticed one young Mum with a pair of gorgeous Each To Own drop earrings. She commented on them. as she has quite a collection of Kirsten's work herself. We three chatted about Kirsten's dangly earrings, the conversation turned to Finders Keepers, from there to Paper Boat Press - Kylie being another amazing Brisbane creative and Finders Keepers frequent flyer. As it turned out, the girl with the amazing earrings helps Kylie with admin work! 

I gushed about how kind Kylie had been when last I visited her gallery, wearing Oscar who was only a month of two old. Kylie had generously invited me in to her own home at the back of the gallery to breastfeed my grisly baby. When I returned to the gallery space she was chatting to two women, one of whom was heavily pregnant. Then Oscar vomited up his milk. It wasn't your average baby posit. A small spit up on the shoulder like my first and second child had done. But rather the kind that ended up as dinner plate size splash on the ground. Accompanied by a comical 'splat' noise. Oscar felt better. I felt embarrassed. Kylie smiled and started helping me clean up. While the heavily pregnant woman looked on in shock. The Mama with the earrings laughed and said 'That pregnant woman was me!' I recognised her the instant she said it! We both laughed about how I had felt so embarrassed, while she had been shocked that a baby could do that. 

What a small, strange world it is indeed, when you can bump in to a stranger a year apart and tell them a story that includes them!

-

PS. Thanks for all the support and love at the market! It was so very good to meet so many of you. It was a thrill each time someone came past and showed me that they were wearing something I made, or told me that they followed me on Instagram. I love making those connections in real life that bridge the social media gap.

Weekending

Rainy, City days

Library Cafe

Yardage Design

Bravo Juliet Designs

Each to Own

Pareidolia Ceramics

Avril Bowrie

Pinky & Maurice

Jennifer Orland

Queensland Art Gallery

California Design Exhibition

Saturday was one of those child free days that seem to happen oh so rarely for this stay at home Mama, but is so completely necessary. While my darling husband kept the children amused with rainy day activities, I headed in to the City to meet up with friends for a cuppa, visit the GOMA design market and explore the California Design Exhibition. The market goers weren't discouraged by Saturday's deluge and the market holders sold their gorgeous wares beneath a marquee, despite the puddles beneath their feet. I secured a few more Christmas presents and mentally added several more to my personal shopping list, while chatting with the wonderful stall holders. The California Design exhibition was a joy to wander through, gathering inspiration and gazing in appreciation at the beauty and skill on show. It was made doubly lovely by bumping in to Jennie and her family, then sharing lunch with my twin sister and her husband.

All in all a wonderful day and a fantastic start to what was a special weekend.
I do believe I shall need to schedule another such day soon...

* Sorry about the quality of some of the photos. Due to the rainy weather I left my big camera at home and relied on my phone camera - which didn't always like the lighting conditions.

Each to Own & Ouchflower

The two crafty ladies I would like to introduce you to today are both doing their own thing, and doing it exceptionally well! Kirsten, from Each To Own, creates clever, colourful, afforable, laser cut jewellery which adds flair to any jewellery collection. While Pippa, from Ouchflower, is a master of knots and ceramic; with tassel making, macrame knotting and pottery just a few of her many talents. Her dip dyed tassels in particular may make you weak at the knees, and over come by a strange urge to redecorate your lounge room. Kirsten and Pippa have generously included a piece of their handiwork in the Handmade Christmas Giveaway for one lucky commentor. Pop over and enter if you haven't already, then please make these lovely ladies welcome!

Whether summer is on the way, or you are looking to remember it in the cooler moths, this fab brooch will make you smile. Evoking all the fun of the beach, tropical fun and all things bright and breezy, this little wood and paper inlay brooch measures 7cms high and features a great pineapple design set with a retro pattern. It would be perfect on your favourite cardigan, jacket or blouse as a little quirky feature, or a gift for someone special. It has been made from hand using Tasmanian Blackwood and hand inlayed paper covered birch.

Each to Own is a small, home based jewellery design company, in Brisbane, Australia, specialising in bright and bold pieces for everyday wear.

We incorporate fun patterns and colours with the familiar forms to produce both wooden and acrylic brooches, necklaces, rings and earrings that brighten up your day.

We enjoy our work and we hope you do to.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/eachtoown

Shop: www.eachtoown.etsy.com

Instagram: @eachtoown

A small cotton twine tassel, dip dyed white with white leather wings.
The underside of each wing is painted gold. 
A perfect decoration for your tree this Xmas.
Overall drop 60-70 cm, tassel length 24-26 cm        

I'm a maker with a passion for craft, thrift, collecting and all things Mid Century and Retro. Over the past three years I have slowly decorated our 70's home with thrift finds, eBay purchases. I have a passion for Mid Century Danish and Australian furniture, West German Pottery and Midwinter Ceramics.

My love of traditional crafts such as pottery began in the art classroom, I then graduated with a B.A Craft-Ceramics honors in 1997, in Melbourne. 

Motherhood has been a catalyst for me to venture back into Contemporary Craft and my love of pottery, embroidery, macrame, illustration, crochet, and screen printing now have no bounds!

Blog: http://www.ouchflower.blogspot.com.au/

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ouchflower

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ouch-Flower/158226207522174

Instagram: @ouchflower